By Carolina Matos, Editor – The National Organization of Portuguese Americans (NOPA) announced that more U.S. Representatives have officially joined the recently reinstated Congressional Portuguese American Caucus, namelyRep. Leonard Boswell (D IA-3); Rep. David Cicilline (D RI-1); Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D OH-11) Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D CA-47). According to NOPA’s announcement the Caucus is now up to 21 members.

In January 2011, NOPA started a campaign to reinstate the Congressional Portuguese American Caucus that did not exist for the last eight years, leading to its reinstatement in February of 2011. Through NOPA’s efforts invitations were sent to Members of Congress to join the Congressional Portuguese American Caucus.

According to Jason Moreira, NOPA’s Vice-chairman and Director of Government Relations, the reinstatement process started with Portuguese American Representatives, Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) and Jim Costa (D-CA), agreeing to become co-chairs and proceeding to move the process forward and making the Caucus official.

To date, NOPA has sent personalized invitations to 345 Representatives in the U.S. House and 52 Senators in the U.S. Senate and will have invitations out to the remaining 141 Members of Congress in the next two weeks. He said, “We have also begun making follow-up phone calls and meetings to Congressional offices.”

Jason Moreira told the Portuguese American Journal that, “as an organization NOPA is very pleased that the Congressional Portuguese American Caucus is once again official and that its membership is growing.” He added, “It is critical that all members of the Portuguese American community participate in this campaign, because we hear over and over again from members of Congress that the request to join a Caucus should come from people in their district or their state and that they need to hear from their constituents in order to join.”

Moreira urges members of the Portuguese Community to contact Members who have joined the Congressional Portuguese American Caucus and thank them for joining and for supporting the community, especially if they represent their district or state. He said, “Individuals and organizations should support this effort to grow the Caucus because, in the long run the more Members that join the Caucus, the better it is for the Portuguese American community to have a voice in Congress.”

Jason Moreira suggested that those interested in participating can log on to NOPA’s website where they will find information such as samples of thank you/invitation letters, talking points, tips for contacting Congress, and useful resource links to use on emails or to call Members of Congress. He said, “It’s important that the Portuguese American community let their Congressional Representatives and Senators know how much they appreciate what they do for their community.”